One small tweak needed in the starting XI

[zimfan1]

After a good win yesterday i feel that the team needs one small change in order to be truely ballanced.

We need to get an extra batter in the side in the place of one of the spinners. Greg Lamb has proven to us that he can bowl 10 overs in ODI's of 6 occasions now and therefore we can class him as one of our frontline bowlers, he also did a good job at number 3 as the partnership with Taylor prevent a typical Zimbawbean situation where one wicket brings two and even though he did not score lightningly quick he still had a better strike rate than most of the Indian Batsman. Im all in favour of him having a run at three to see if he can bring stabilty to the lineup which has been missing for several years since Andy and Grant Flower. HOpefull he will fit into the Grant Flower role when he builds partnerships and rotates the strike well and acts as a platform for the more agressive players to be able to express themselves.

However i do think we are a batter short as even though Cremer has made big strides with his batting i still dont think that he is a number 8 as if you look at other teams number 8's they include Johnson, McLaren, Sammay, Yardy, and Harbijan. And Cremer is not yet in that same class.

Therefore a batter needs to come in for one of the spiners which will be a choice of Utseya or Cremer and at the moment with Utseya bowling well i think Cremer will be the one who has to miss out in the very short term, with probably Taibu coming in. This will place extra bowling responsibilty on Blignaut but after watching his one over i think that he could bowl 5 0r 6 overs in an innings which will be fine as we have 5 bowlers allready in Price, Lamb, Utseya, Mpofu and Chigumbura.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

I agree with you that we need a batter. The spin quartet is good option only against WI, NZ, IRL KEN etc with asian countries you need a good score to defend. You normally play your best batsman at number-3. I will be happy if Taibu or Williams occupy this position but not Lamb. Its okey if you are consolidating but with Lamb there was always a danger of run out. Few of his shots looked painful to watch (considering No.3 batter and not pinch hitter). Good thing we Chappy is he never waste balls and changes the game in minutes. However i have yet to see a proper attacking shot from Lamb. The win could have been more convincing had Ervine promoted to no.3. He looked at so ease in rotating the strike.

As far as sacrificing Cremer is considered, i am against it. Utseya, Price n Cremer are genuine spinners and you cant replace them with certain Mr Lamb. He is just economical (and very lucky i must say. Grant Flower had the potential of rotating strike as well as clearing boundaries. He was instrumental in Zimbabwe's most successful run chase ever where he sacrificed his wkt for victory.

It was only recently when Coventry, Taylor and Utseya were heavily criticised in this forum now everything is rosy. This players have proven track-record behind nothing so for Lamb. Its criminal to give Lamb time at No.3 (for other talented players expense).We are not here to make him batsman by giving umpteenth chances (even Matsi, Ebrahim had the ability to rotate strike). Even if you want to give him chance, then play him against IRL and KEN for experiments.To sum up, Cremer is a better batsman than Lamb

[eugene]

I think Lamb should be in the side but I feel our best no. 3 is Sean Williams. Perhaps this line-up is our best?

1. Brendan Taylor
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Tatenda Taibu
5. Craig Ervine
6. Charles Coventry/Greg Lamb
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Andy Blignaut/Prosper Utseya
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis

[aydee]

I agree with you that we need a batter. The spin quartet is good option only against WI, NZ, IRL KEN etc with asian countries you need a good score to defend. You normally play your best batsman at number-3. I will be happy if Taibu or Williams occupy this position but not Lamb. Its okey if you are consolidating but with Lamb there was always a danger of run out. Few of his shots looked painful to watch (considering No.3 batter and not pinch hitter). Good thing we Chappy is he never waste balls and changes the game in minutes. However i have yet to see a proper attacking shot from Lamb. The win could have been more convincing had Ervine promoted to no.3. He looked at so ease in rotating the strike.

As far as sacrificing Cremer is considered, i am against it. Utseya, Price n Cremer are genuine spinners and you cant replace them with certain Mr Lamb. He is just economical (and very lucky i must say. Grant Flower had the potential of rotating strike as well as clearing boundaries. He was instrumental in Zimbabwe's most successful run chase ever where he sacrificed his wkt for victory.

It was only recently when Coventry, Taylor and Utseya were heavily criticised in this forum now everything is rosy. This players have proven track-record behind nothing so for Lamb. Its criminal to give Lamb time at No.3 (for other talented players expense).We are not here to make him batsman by giving umpteenth chances (even Matsi, Ebrahim had the ability to rotate strike). Even if you want to give him chance, then play him against IRL and KEN for experiments.To sum up, Cremer is a better batsman than Lamb

Sorry, but Cremer is not a better batsman than Lamb. Full stop. I know that Lamb is limited player, and he hasn't had the best start to his international career with the bat. However, he scored a lot of runs in both first class and 50 over franchise cricket. He was as consistent, and prolific as anyone. He has without a doubt earned an opportunity in the side on the basis of his batting. In fact, his bowling has been a bonus, as I doubt they expected him to bowl as many overs as he has recently when he was first selected. To be fair to him, his innings yesterday was crucuial to the victory. If he had failed, then one of the famous collapses may well have been on the cards. The key to chasing down challenging scores is to stay in the game as long as possible. Thanks to solidity at the top of the order, that was achieved yesterday. Having kept wickets in hand, it gave Coventry, Chigumbura a chance to play their natural game, rather than come in trying to stave off a collapse.

[Mike]

Lamb does have a place in the team as a batsman though. He shouldn't have a set batting number. He should come in when we are struggling a bit and we need someone to stick around for a while whilst rotating the strike. That should be his job.

Number three in any case is too high though. Taibu should be batting there I think!

[Conant]

To sum up, Cremer is a better batsman than Lamb

You are too cruel, Dr Situ

[bayhaus]

He should come in when we are struggling a bit and we need someone to stick around for a while whilst rotating the strike. That should be his job.

[Conant]

I think Lamb should be in the side but I feel our best no. 3 is Sean Williams. Perhaps this line-up is our best?

1. Brendan Taylor
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Tatenda Taibu
5. Craig Ervine
6. Charles Coventry/Greg Lamb
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Andy Blignaut/Prosper Utseya
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis

Imagine if we tweaked Sean Ervine somewhere in there? And a certain Mr Panyangara in the tail (at 8 or 9)...

[sloandog]

I think Lamb should be in the side but I feel our best no. 3 is Sean Williams. Perhaps this line-up is our best?

1. Brendan Taylor
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Tatenda Taibu
5. Craig Ervine
6. Charles Coventry/Greg Lamb
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Andy Blignaut/Prosper Utseya
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis

Imagine if we tweaked Sean Ervine somewhere in there? And a certain Mr Panyangara in the tail (at 8 or 9)...

Ya i agree, would be a fierce line up

[eugene]

I think Lamb should be in the side but I feel our best no. 3 is Sean Williams. Perhaps this line-up is our best?

1. Brendan Taylor
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Tatenda Taibu
5. Craig Ervine
6. Charles Coventry/Greg Lamb
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Andy Blignaut/Prosper Utseya
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis

Imagine if we tweaked Sean Ervine somewhere in there? And a certain Mr Panyangara in the tail (at 8 or 9)...

Ya i agree, would be a fierce line up

Actually at the moment Andy Blignaut is looking like the odd one out, unless his bowling improves. This line-up looks very strong and if Sean Ervine could be slotted in it would be even stronger. Imagine this line-up!

1. Brendan Taylor
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Tatenda Taibu
5. Sean Ervine
6. Craig Ervine
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Andy Blignaut/Prosper Utseya
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis